Envelope-sealing machine



June .21, 1,927.

J- W. ESKHOLME ENVELOPE SEAL'ING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1925 ATTORNEYS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. W. ESKHOLME ENVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1925 n lll' l lnllwwUlIHUnO'll l.

11---.. mlikw.

June 21 1927.

ATTORNEYS .June 2l, 1927.

J. w. ESKHOLME ENvELoPE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 925 l 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 21, 1927. 1,633,244 J. w. EsKHoLME ENVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 9. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JMW L/ZTs/fa/m M QYMMJM ATTORNEYS June 21, 1927. 1,633,244

J. w. ESKHOLME ENvELoPE sEALING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 21, 1927. 1,633,244

. J. w, EsKHoLME ENVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 y f4 fg/f June 2l 1927' J. w. EsKHoLME EVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1925 ATTORNEY.,

June 21 l927 1,633,244 J. w. EsKHoLME ENV'ELOPE SEALING MQCHINE Filed March 9, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 21, 1927.

-NEW JERSEY, @smelten 'To' man' STAR APPLI- ANGES, vINC.,foF-1\rE'w "Yonx; n.' y., oo'RPo'RmrroNoF DELAWARE.

ENVELOP'ESEALING' MACHINE. i

n pplicartionglled 9,V 19.225. Serial NAO. 1:19,'0475". l

rlhe pres/ ent invent-ion elte's to machines vflor handling '.envelpe cards, and otlieila't objects, and 'iscapable of a variety of1`is'es. It isa'n ,object-'of the I sntinvritioxito conveniently lprovide fd'r" fziliilg; o'f envelopes.A l.

fis 'aI Afurther objectroiftlie invention to e for printing. 'with fink 5a 'sealed 'envelope or on a Hat card, as for'iiistance the vstamp"onan'genvelop'e .and to print fadjacentftof the cancelled stamp the :name of the post oflic' e,a.date, the hour land the permit number of the nser.

Y Itisa filrther object of Ytheinv'erition 'to comit/the nu'mlber of envelopes, f c'aids-,f or other an gebiet, passed tlfr-buh-guie fina.- ych ine., not for tlie beneHt ofthe' overnmeht 'in caleulatingftlie amoiint'offlpostae paid ingreep, but forthinfmfin ko'fie itis-ea of themacliine. i .1

. Althonghthe machine is capable 'of awide variety off'us'es, 'fitsV feates't utilityrliesun sealing stamped enveipes andftlien cancellling'ythe Government stamp I,and' 'co1 intin the mnnber of `stampsso cancelled nve opes to bensed in this "way i of Atli'e,cl 1a.`r actor now furnished 1)lie :United States ,Groverin i'ient; and 'having ,the .'postageg'stamp formedflirectly in'thepaper ofthe envelope, or equally \vell.maybe atplain envelope :to whiclran adhesive Government stamp has been affixed. n

'LVlien :the sealed envelopes; come Afrom the machinewithI the.stampsfcanccllethand with the naine ot the post office 'andv` the date printed ithereon, they'canbe ,delivered in bullr'to the post office and therev canbe distributed directly into the outgpingpouclies without the delays and labor incident to lliest placing themface' npon thesorting tableand then passing them through the stamp cancelling. devices now commonly used-by thevv Government employees. In other Words-much of the;la bor nowrequired at the. post dflice is done before the mailreaches thepost office with: a' consequent saving in time'inJplaeing the mail in transit to its destination.

The machine ofthe present' inventionfhas a new type of receiving. plat-form on which the envelopes may be stackedvhorizontally with Atheir open fiaps hanging' downward over the side of the platform in shingled relation, y'means being provided at the side oi the. stach-for keeping the envelopes i-n 'properalignment` with a-'lieed roll.' to which they are `t`o `be deliverdone b'yvv one' 'from the bttomfof the stack. Thefplatform :also

includes an' adfus'ta'ble anti-friction device of ho'i'elchaifateradaptd "spring" pres Su'r 'fo tbmicjany'nn 'the Stack as the number-of envelopes in the stack 'progressively decreases. 4

The machine also embodies a'no'vel barrier of cylindricahform coacting with vthe feedingroll vand having a slight"an`to`rnatic moveinent in a direction opposite to 'that ffthe feeding roll whereby 'the 'wear onthe barrier is Xd isbtrilnited over its entire; cylindrical face.

Amoxsteninigtdeviceand water fountain of xr'i'ovetV construction senves'to ynoisten the dioinwardlyA hanging fia'ps'of the envelopes during their.pas sage one -by one over fthe y i d roll. ansferrollsfanda coacting inclined-gnidewvseryeito fold the vg'u'mmed flap o `an enigelopenpward.against the bod-y thereof. Tlreenvelope then .passes to a pair of sealing rolls where it is Vfirmly squeezed to secure-.good adhesion ofthegum'medan.

Vhenthe' envelopeY passes from the sealing ,rolls it vtrips'J a .printing mechanism .which by rolling.` movement over the travelling envelope cancels 'the postage stamp;-the rc0f and Vprints adjacent to the cancelling. imprint 4otheriital data, such as the name ofthepost oHiCe, tliedate, and hourof cancellation. Counting mechanism operatively, connected with the printingdc vice-records the number'ofprintcd imprints and consequently, lthe number of stamps cancelled'. The printing mechanism itself is so mounted that it can beA swung upward into inverted position` to give access to the dies and type with which'it is equipped. and the type and vdies are soz secured inplace that their replacement is a matter of but a moments work, no special tools being-required. Manually controlled 'levers are provided for' throwing the counting. mechanism out of action, forthrowingthe printing roll outof action, and for throwing the inking lroll 4out (if-action, when occasion may require, so that if desired, the machine vmay-be-operated Simply as an envelope sealing machine.

v`Pwerfor themac'hin'e is suppliedf-by an electric motor' compaetly mounted, and those rotating. elements of the. machine which travel at high' Speed are equipped with wooden bearingsleeves which aresilent in oprationyand to which no lubricating :oil needbe'applied by the operator. rThere is,

on theline of therefore, n o .chancer-thatfdrippin'g voil will mar ors`oil'enve1op`es or other articles being passed through the machine. 'i

. .Other ldetails and -obfects sof thecomplete'` machine willbecomeV clear.- from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side eleva-tion ofthecomplete ers on the'receivng platform;

Fig. 5 isa sectional'detail-ofthe water fountain and its valve;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section onthe brokgn line 6 6 of Fig. 1;"` f

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detaillshowing the rubber friction surfaces of thejmain envelope-'feeding'dr'um';

Fig. 8 is a'sideielevation'o'f the v'revolving moistening brushfor more strictly'speaking, is al vertical 'sectionV 'on`the1linef'8-8pf Fig. 9 shows the moistening cdevice from the rear and` in elevation, an particularly the meansfor Iratcheting the brush 'to produce an intermittent rotary movement;

Fig. 10 is 'a'detail ofthe frictional ratcheting mechanism; i

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section on the'line 11-11 of Fig. 6; 1

Fig. 12 is a transverse section' on' the line 12-12 of Fig.'1, showing a'pair of transfer rolls' L Fig. 13 is a transverse section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 1, showing the sealing rolls; Fifr. 14 isa detail of a clutch as it'appears in section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the adjustable plates shown at the top of Figs. 6 and 11;

Fig. 16 isa horizontal section on the line 16-16 of Figsf and 11';

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the'transfer and scaling rolls and of associated means, whereby the flap of the envelope is closed and pressed against the body of the envelo e;

IFig. 18 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 19 is a transverse section on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an end elevation of the machine as it appears when viewed from the left of Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted for greater clarity.

Frame loof/'k ami receiving plat/own (Figs, I, 2, 3,4, 6, 13 1m/ Q0).

The frame work of the machine comprises a cast metal base 1 to which is secured, by a plurality of bolts 2, a sub-base 3 integral with which is a vertical support-ing plate 4 carrying a hub 5 to serve as'a bearing sup- 'a central sheet metal plate 7 on the flanged V.upperaedgeof which is bolted-1a sheet metal f platforxn 8 whih-eXtends thm-entire length of the machine. To its down-'turned rear '='edge' (Ffi'g'. 6) is bolted a long lower apron 9 which extends throughout the length of the'iriachine-.i-On the front down-turned edgeof platform 8 is a short lower apron 10 'KFigs and 1)""to which is hinged -a'vertical guide plate 11 (Figs. 1 and .3). At the connectiongis ahcoiled spring 12 for ontrollirig'theposition of guide late V11. Above platform '8 and supported: y a rear wall 413 bolted thereto. is a cover plate 14 hich covers the vlefthand two-thirds' of machine as viewed in Fig. l, and which serves'as the support for certain adjusting IneC'haniSIris IA The front-edge of cover 'plate 144 is'carr'iedby a front wall plate 15 Fig. 13) securedA along'its lower edge by olts 16 toy a short 'front apron 17 bolted -to the down-turned front edgeof platform 8.

:l I `h`e.i eceivin'g platform for the envelopes tjofbe sealed" and the'ncancelled is at the rightha'nd end of: the machineas viewed in Fig. 1, and lincludes a pair of anti-friction rollers '18, thedetails of which are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. l

' Platform V8 's' vprovided with a pair of parallelnslots' 19 :(Fig. V2) through which rollers 1S-may project to contact with a Ystack ofenvelopes horizontally placed thereon." 'Each roller is mounted to turn freely on apin 20, the inner end of which is riveted toa vertieal'leg'ofa U-shaped support 21. That U-shap'ed support 21 Vis carried on the upper end ofa pull-rod 22 to the lower end of which is secured a handle 23. This pullrod is guided by a. U-shaped plate 24 secured by bolts 25 (Fig. 4) to a pair-of brackets 26, theupper horizontal legs of which contact with the lower face of lplatform 8 and transversely bridge the parallel slots 19 thereof. 4To h old this mechanism againstfree sliding movement along slots 19, there are provided a pair of transverse bars 27 (Fig. 2) through which bolts pass for threaded engagement in t-he horizontal upper legs of brackets 26. A coiled spring 28 encircles the pull-rod 22 and thus tends to keep the rollers in their uppermost position and projecting well vthrough platform 8. Butwhen occasion requires, the operator may pulldown O n handle 23 and thus bring the top of v'rollers 1 8 flush with the top of platform 8. During that downward movement, the rollersand their supporting mechanism are guided in brackets 26 by ears 29 (Figs. 2 and 3) Aintegral with the U-shaped plate 21 and adapted to rub at their edges along the inner faces of brackets 26. Freedom of movement/along slots 19 is of advantage in adapting the machine to envelopes of j in having the; rollers so, -supported by' a spring that they will be depressed whe-na full stack of envelopes is placedover' them. Exceptfor thisfthere-.wouldibe-,dangeg that one 0rV more 0f vthe toptenreliopesmight slide down bet-wem:thestacktandbeeplate and there impede freewpassagefesemeo the 4envelopesmer thedrurnrlb- ASlSOQn as the operator completes the work .of :stacking the envelopes on the platformu rollers-18 move; upward toi produce,a itg';lting ofthe stack-,-A thus plaeggcthe enrelo'pes-in Such-an inclined .positipn als willftacilitne entrance over drumI 30.- vf l p .Y

When the envelopes are; stack-ed for insel:` tion intov the machineI the flapsare adjusted at rightangles to the bodies,.fas nd.cated in Eins-.f1 andf. :The lawermost envelope `iS brought into. proper alignment" ,with the leiiving '-.nlattarm ami.,` -sprfingfpressed frertical plate 11 is relied on to force-'.vthestack over progressively so that the lowermost .envelopefwill,l at.- all timesf bein,v proper alignment. The feedihg'fr'lls' I, 2, 6'; to 211), I5

Y andly. d The lowermo'st envelope fromthe 4stack-.is gripped between. thelar-ge feeding roll or drum 3Q and a smallqupper. rolt 3l.,- Feeding roll30 has a pair of annular' recesses. infits working. face in. each of whichl i's.s.=:cure :l V a rubber` tread 32 with corrugated or knurled faces as shown in Fig..7-. This drum-3() is mounted. on; a drive shaft-33. tov which it is lockedby a setV screw 34 (Fig, 6). Shaft 33 passes through hub 5. in which is; an antifriction wood lining 351so constituted as not toi-equire:application of lubricating oil;

Rollilhas a smootliyielding faceof'rubber or-like material anddoes not rotate from frictional engagement with an envelope passed between it and'drum .30,"but, on the contrary acts as al restraining. balil for all but the lowermost envelope and at the same time presents ayieldingsurface along which the envelpe. can bedragged'by the rubber surfaces o fdr m30. Platform 8 is provided with. a pair o longitudinal slots; 371 and 38 (Fig, 2) .throughfw ch the rubbertreads,of

-l5i).- I130,143 39 passes through a longitudinal sloty in', the horizontal leg ofa bracket 42. 'Ifheother or; outer; leg ofv this bracket is turnedupwardly. Similarly,.bolts-40 andf41 through: longitudinal slots inthe hori- .zontal-legfa-wide bracket 43; the other or outerileg of; which turned-upwardly. Secured4 t0 these outwardly turned legs of" the 'twobrackets by bolts 44 isa' baille plate 45 (Figs. 6- and"1"1)",'one mction of'which is Vtkeep thestack-ot envelopesfrom crowding forward againstroll 31. Lying against the rearl face otbaflle plate 45 and.4 guided along its-edges bythe adjacent up-turned' edges of .brackets .42ffandj 43 is; a -xzertically movable plate 4 6, the tupper,. e-ndqof which is; bent over asfshown in .Fig lilutoengage. with a keeper 447 mythe lowerA endg-of afthreaded shaft 48 passes I lwith threadedengagement thxpjughranrear integrali with-baille plate 45, andisrprovidedfatits upper endf with' a knob 49:@ 6.) By turning this knob, plate 46 cani be made to'V slide in its guidcway. Near theflower endfof the plate46 are two integralfears 50 which are bent forward to ser-Ve assupportsfor a shaft 5l (Figs. ll .and-116). V`Shaft 51 serves as apivot for a pairofsideplates 52 joined together by an integral bar- 53i-a'ndprovided at their lower extremities with a shaft54 onwhich roll 31 may turn. Wrapped around. shaft 51 is a coiled wire spring 55, one end: of which rests againstvplatefl, and the other end of which engages one of the side plates This spring holds the rolll to its work with a4 yieldingpressure but will permit upward .swinging movement of. the roll above shaft 5l to accommodate envelopes differing slightly in thickness. This spring connection Will'take care of Aany change from a oncpage letter toa twopage letter. then the envelopes are much thicker, as when containing circulars or pamphlets, manual adjust-mentfcan be made at knob 49 before commencing to passthe envelopes through the machine. The mechanismwhereby roll 3l is caused to4 turn with an. intermittent movementy to equalize the Wear on its: face includes agag roller 56 preferably of soft rubber and'lioating between roll 3l and its llt) z the traveling envelope. Therefore, in a sense roll 31 may be regarded as a spring-pressed barrier, the wearing surface of which is periodically renewed. Roll 31 can, of course, be turned by hand ina counterclockvvise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 to present a new wearing surface for Contact with lpassing envelopes. Ordinarily, however, the `intermittent slowrotative movement above de-V scribed 'Will be entirely sufficient to equalize the wear. Cross-bar 53, by :its vbearing against the lower end of `plate 46, acts as a stop to limit downward' swing of roll 31. The mozstemng device 'andA 'its fou/Main (Figs. 1,3 to 6', 8, 9 and '10). y At the right hand end of base 1, `asseen in Fig. 1, are ears 57 Iand, 58'for carr' ing rubber cushions 59, and tapped into t ose ears are bolts 60 land 61 under which'is clamped across bar 62.` `Rest-ing loosely on an upwardly bent portion of this bar is the foot 63 'of an automatic Water fountain. This fountain comprisesa metal cup 64 with an airintake and overflow 'vent 65,. this cup being threaded to one end of a horizontal feed pipe 66. The mouthof the cupiis lined with asoft rubbercollar 67- within which is loosely but closely fitted the neck of an inverted glass water -bottle 68. The mouth of the bottle is at a level just below the air intake 65. This fountain is of the constant level type for water can flow out of the glass receptacle only in proportion as air flows in and air is admitted or excluded in accordance with the level of the Water in the lower part of the cup, as will be well unrlerstood by those skilled in the art.

A soft rubber check valve 69 is inserted through the neck of the bottle into the position shown in Fig. 5. `While the fountain is in use, this check valverests on a leg 70 integral with the fountain cup and its leg (S3, but when the water bottle is to be removed, the valve is released and seats against the neck of the bottle to prevent spilling any residue of water while lifting the bottle out for refilling.

'lo refill the bottle after removing it from the fountain the operator withdraws the soft rubber check valve 69, as if it were a cork, thus leaving the neck of the bottle unobstructed for filling. The valve is then pushed back into the bottle, and it makes no difference which end isinserted for both ends are alike. The cross 4section of the gag roll 56 and the steml is such' as to lallow ample space for 'the passageof -air upward and the passage of water downward. 1 1

The moistening device, together with the fountain,l are easily removable from the machine for purposes of adjustment, cleaning, ete. To insurevease of removal, these ele- 'mentsyareifastened to sub-`base 3 by a single bolt -71' which passes 'through a' lug 72 integral with the casting-73 vwhich-serves as 'a well for the'moistening water and as a support forv various other elements. Feed pipe 66 is threaded into a casting 7 3.- Along the bottom Aedgeof casting'734 aretwo lugs S74 and 75 bevelled to engage with the in.

Aclined front/edge of a' pair lof lugs 76'integral Witlrsubbase 3 (Fig. 3),' The tightening of bolt '71 bringsthese 'inclined faces into wedging eng'ageinentand insures"accurate alignment' of 'alljof-the parts asso- .2

ciatedv lwith casting 73: Y

A sheet metal :box t77 with a detachable cover 78 encloses the moving elements of the 'moistening-fdevice.'`

The moving elementsv of the moistening idevice includef'a'n intermittently v'rotating 'sheet metal' drum 79 within the flanged peripheryv of which is secured' an annular 'brush 80 with Aoutwardly projecting bristles. 'Thisdru'm turns slowlyirwith an intermittent movement 'to moisten" the bristles by progressive submergence of them the water of the-well73, "butwith-oppoitunity for the bristlesto drain before being brought into eontactj with the'guinm'ed 'flaps lof 4envelopes fto be sealedy f i Drum "Z9-is vsecured by v'a nut 81 to a threaded bushing82, whichis mounted on a bolt 83 on which it can freely turn. "Bolted vto drum 79 is a sheetmetal drum 84 with a flange at its outerfA edge against which bears a frictional ratcheting device now to be described. f

The frictional ratcheting device whereby the moistening brush is given an intermittent rotary movement comprises a dog 85 (Fig. 10) pivoted at 86 to the upper end of an oscillating arm 87. That arm is mounted'on bushing82 (Figj8) 'and is free to swing thereon.v Integral withA dog 85 is a weight 88, the lorweredge of which is kerfed to form a tongue' 89 which is bent at right angles to the weight so that it can strike against theedge 'of bar 87 and. thus serve to keep the dog in convenient position for reassembly in case the mechanism is taken apart for cleaning. At 86 (Fig. 6) is a stub shaft on which dog 85 can swing, this'shaft being threaded through arm 87 and secured by a nut 90. Beyond the threadediportion ofthe stub shaft is a cylindrical portion 91 (Figs. 6 and 9) which serves as a pin for engagement with a slot 92 in the upper end of a pivotally mounted oscillating lever 93. This levei` 93 is free to swing 'about -a stub shaft 94 supported bybox 77 "and "equipped with la collar, a nut, and la lock'nut as shown in Fig. 6. The oscillating movementfis imparted to lever 93 by meanso'' a'cani 595;.wfhioliis'stiaddled by -the bifurcated lower end-o lever 93. This'lcam is `eccentricz':lly mounted and is free to rotate on" the reduced cylindrical end 96 of 'bolt 83. A bushing 97 :s 'threaded 'to that bolt and is externally threaded torcoeive a nut 98, the function of which is to gri the wall of 'box 77 and hold bolt 83 an( its associated parts in proper worlin'g relation. r

Asiinple form of vclx'itch serves to establish` driving connection between the main driving shaft 33 (Figo) and the eccentric cam 95. This clutch consists of a pin 9-9 projecting at the end of-the hub of the drum 30 and adapted 'by rotary movement'to strike againsta similar pin 100 'projecting from the side face of caml 95. A gag roller' f79 holds drum 79l'a'gainst rotation in reverse direction. i

The front wall of box '77 entends slightly about the 'airis of bolt S23-'but' is-'provided witli'an upwardly extending ear 101 through which passes al bolt 102 to secure the box to the front apron 15 and give support thereto'.

lVhen an envelope ispassed 'over drun1`30 its .depending gummed flap wipes acrossthe damp bristles 'of the annular brush 80and the envelope then is pulled"'forward by the transfer rolls and ultimately issealed at the next ,pair of rolls. The bristlesfof'the brush are kept in aproperly moistened condition by periodic submergence in thel water of the well 73 and the intermittentV rotary movement of the brush is slow enough to protect against too much moisture in 'the bristles across which ythe envelope is wiped.

W'hen the machine is lstarted up in the morning after it has been standing over night the bristles at the top of the drum will have dried out to such .an extent as to be ineffective. There are, however, finger holes in the drum 79 accessible l"from the front of the machine so that the operator can turn the drum by hand to bring properly moisteucd bristles into active position preparatory to starting the machine. EX- cept for this the first. ew envelopes passed through the machine mightl not have their flaps sufficiently moistened.

The frana/er and scazng mechanisms figs. 1, a, 1e, 13, 1.1, 17, 18 am! 19).

The transfer. mechanism is used to forward the envelope from the no'steing device to thes'ealing rollers and, asshown in Fig. 12, comprises an upper roller carried on a shaft 103 and consisting .of annular castings 104 and 105 bolted together' within a metal tube 106. Each casting is lined wit-han oil-liess wood sleeve so that its bears'halft 108 suited to high :speed Without the' n'eedfor applying lubricating 'oil. Tube 106 has 'a rubber face 10T. This ripper rollis spring supported as hereinait-er described.

Y flhc otlf1er roll-er Iof the transfer' mecha- :tiem comprises a rubber" cylinder 108 carried on a; pair offcastings 109 and 110 securedrtlogether asshown in Fig. 12V by'two bolts x1211 and 112, eiach ofl which coopersites with-a threaded-'sleeve and' a comp21-Irion' bolt; Thislower rollei1 is lined by two 'abutting oil-less lwooden sleeves 113 'whichf areree to' turn on shaft 114.

` `Slifft114 is bolted at'one end to 'apron 9. Theotlher end is rigidly secured by a bolt to the downwardly extending ear 115 of .a brackelt'the upperI or horizontal position of which :is lfastened :by fourscrews 116 F ig. Q ),against the lower face of platform S. This bracket has 'another and shorter dependinglear l17=to support the outer end ofa'stati'fmaiy shaft-"118 on'which Vis 'a Wood bearing' sleeve `119,*and a rubber auxiliary rollen-120 which acts asfcomplemental to the lxn'iain i'ower' rbll and 'is'driven by frictional` `engagement 'with' the envelopes. The lower roller cannot well' be made of the saine width'as A'theuipper roller because of the presence' of 'an inclined Sheet metal guide 121 usedl to fold inwardly the moistened 'flapsof the'envelopes. This inclined guide 121 is a vprolonf'ration :of thefront sheet i'netal'tvalll'anl'acts progressively on the envelope flaps to swiiig'tliein inward against the body of the envelope. The transfer roil- -ersSi-wve to hold the envelope against the guide vWhile atthe' same time ladvancing the envelope to and into the sealing rollers.

The upper sealing'r roll 122 (Fig- 13) is construeted essentially like the upper transfer roll; y

Y The Ilower sealing roller 123 is constructed essentially like the lower transfer roller ex- Cepting that it iS of greater width.- It is mounted on a stationary bar 124 bolted at one end to apron 9 and at the other end to apron 17. j

Beforethe 'envelope reaches this pair of sealingf'roller's'the 'gummed la'p will have been'folded' into position against the body of the envelope4 so' that the'envelo'pe 125 (Figi 13) can-be squeezed between the rubberfades of tile rollers to complete the sealmgt D The upper transfer'roller and the upper sealing `roller are'yieldingly mounted in a manner now to beV describe TheV 'upper transferrtille'r has itsjs'h'aft 103A rigidly boltedntfo the free ends of a pairof plates 126 (Fig. 18)4 which 'are v,Connected by an integral cross piedevg127 andareI pivoted on a stationary bar 128 bolted between rear wall 13 and lfront Wall 15. The upper sealing roller 122 has its shaft 129 vsimilarly mounted on the free ends of plates 130 which are connected by a cross piece 131 and are pivoted on shaft 128. Positioned above cross bars 127 and 131 is a sheetmetal spring 32 having four downwardly extending fingers 133 (Fig. 19) two of which press downward on cross pieces 127, and two of which press downward on cross piece 131. This spring is held to its work by an adjusting bolt 134, the lower end of which is anchored in a U-shaped fitting threaded on bar 128. Integral with cross lpiece 127 are a pair of lugs 136 turned up from the cross piece itself and serving to keep the fingers of the spring from swinging around on bolt 134. The companion cross piece 131 is similarly equipped. From the sealing rollers the envelope is advanced to the printing mechanism.

The drive (Figs. 1, f2, 6', 12, 13 and 14.).

The machine as a whole isdriven by an electric motor 282 (Fig. 1) with its base283 bolted to a transverse cross bar 284 bolted to base 1, as shown. The/drive is through a round belt 285 to speed-reducing'pulleys 286 and 287. The latter is connected by a belt 289 to a pulley 288 (Fig. 6). Pulley 288 is secured to drive shaft 33 by a sei screw 290. Integral with pulley 288 is a larger pulley 291 having a belt 292 passing to a pulley 293 (Fig. 12) which is formed integral with a cylindrical sleeve 294 earried at either end on anti-friction wooden bearing sleeves 295 and 296.

The end of Sleeve 294 most remote from pulley 293 is eut to forni a ratchet wheel 297 (Fig. 14). Pawls 298 and 299 pivoted on bolts 111 and 112 engage the teeth of this ratchet., and are biased toward the ratchet by wire springs 300 and 301 each of which is wrapped around an anchoring screw 302 and has a free end bearing against one of the pawls, as shown in Fig. 14. It is through this ratchet that a driving connection is established between sleeve 294 and the lower transfer rollers of Fig. 12.

The normal peripheral speed of the lower transfer roll is sli htly faster than the peripheral speed of t e large feeding drum 30.

A driving connection to the next pair of rolls is effected by means of a pulley 303 (Fig. 12) integral with pulley 293 and connected by a belt 304 to a pulley 305 (Fig. 13) on a sleeve 306 equipped with anti-friction sleeves 307 and 308 of wood, as shown in Fig. 13. The diameter of pulley 305Y is slightly less than that of pulley 303, and, consequently, the peripheral speed .of .the sealing rolls 122 and 123 :is slightly greater than the peripheral speed of the transfer rolls through which the envelope passes to reach the sealin rolls. The sealing rolls thus have a slig t tendency to snatch the envelope out of the transfer rolls, thereby guarding againstzany buckling in the en'- velope during its transit fronrone pair of rolls to the other. But the envelope cannot be subjected to a pull severe `enou h to endanger it for under such a pull t e pawls of Fig. 14 will lift their respective springs and permit the transfer rolls to rotate faster than the sleeve with which they are norf mally connected through thel ratchet wheel. l

Consequently, the tension on the envelope is limited by the pressure with which springs 300 and 301 Yhold their respective dogs against the ratchet teeth. This is negligible.

Driving connection from sleeve 306 to the lower sealing roll 123 is established through a ratchet drive of the Same kind heretofore described in connection with Fig. 14

Sleeve 306 is providedwith a pulley 309 and abelt 310 by which power is delivered to pulley 311 (Fig. 2) .on shaft 139, which is the shaft of thelower printing roll 137. Pulley 311 is slightlyl smaller than pulley 309 so that the printing rolls tend slightly to pull the envelopes from 4the sealing rolls, the ultimate tension on the envelope being safe-guarded by the ratchetconnection between sleeve 306 and thev lower sealing roll 123. y y.

lf the envelope which has engaged with the printing rolls is of such length as simultaneously' to be engaged both by the sealing rolls and by the transfer rolls, the speed at which the envelope travels is controlled by the peripheral speed of the printing rolls, the other two pairs overrunning their ratchets suliciently. to protect the envelop from undue strain.. Inasmueh as all of the upper rolls are driven by frictional engagement, the envelope is .protected from such rubbing as might smear a type-written address thereon.

To operate the machine, the addressed and filled envelopes are placed horizontally in stack on the receiving platform, with their gunnned flaps hanging down in shngled relation to one another and their stamped ends toward drum 30. The lowermost envelope of. the stack is caught between the feed.v rollers and pulled out from beneath the stack and advanced across the laterally projecting moist bristles of the moistening brush. The upper retarding or separating roller meantime acts as a guard or barrier to pevent advancementof other envelopes of the stack. The moistened envelope passes directly forward through the transfer rolls while its downwardly hanging fiap strikes against an inclinedplate and is gradually folded upward against the horizontal body of the envelope, so that when the envelope reaches the sealing rolls, the flap can be squeezed tightly against the envelope. The sealedV envelope then passes to the printing rolls where the postage stamp is cancelled .define by ,theap ,ended'iclaims In a divlional application, Siial'jNof-GQSSQ, filed Noi-ember Alth, 1925, 'clgiims'are presented on no velwfeatures `of Ethe 'feed ing mechanism associated mechanism' above' described,

T and4 in a divisional'applieatiomSei-ial No.

69,5193, filed ovenioer- 1925, clafims' are presented l' onf' the print-ing n ieehanism, the eeentingfirieelienlsm, eind adlmeesfahd esse* elated. elemente .abete .deeeeiled rate VWater"jiitlet, fandfan inverted' water '.bttlepwth. falljeilfh. lieleiithe' "level ef ASeid eii'fiilflel; ee.idbettle.l2eii 1'g ,removable fer re- ,pleriishiig and having @reversible .eeft .rubber' 'elleel' valve therein, Substantially es de; .eei'bed "ln .'meehile .efthefehe-i'eeler de'- i the eemllletle bfiabupfhavn'g en eilt-intakes e' rubber Cellar villn. Seid eur., an inverted water;bottleisu. portediin. said della?. with .its mandi; Slightlylbelev Seidl-eil idletl ideare' fsubetentellv"Sweetest. level of. 'water in' said cup, aridv a' cliecl'- valve in Seid bettle teureren@ SPllngQtlle. residue ef liquid \i1 .l.1'e1.1 4 fliislbettle is liftedjeut ferA4 refll..1g,-Sa.id .elieek'val've 'le'.erll'g'eeeily remov- 2ilele tlileugli the neck of .Sa'd'hot'tley 3. In al'zmachine of the' character ,der .eelibed, the. combinati@ .of e @naleving en air. intalie, a rubbercollar within said cup, an. inverted water bottle su'pported'in Said collarwvith its mouth-sli litly'below said air inlet to insure ,substantially constant .level of Water' in'saidcup, and a removable check valve in said bottle tol prevent 'spilling the residue .0f liquid when ,this ,bottle LS. lifted out for-refilling, said lcheck valve having symmetrically formed ends so that it will function properly Whichever end is inserted in the'bottle.'

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cup having an air intake, arubber collarvwitliin said cup, an inverted water bottle supported in said collar with its mouth slightly below said air inlet to insure substantially constant level of water in said cup, and a check valve in said bottle to prevent spilling the residue of liquid when this bottle is lifted out for refilliiig, said check 'valve being of'so'ft rub ber s o that it can-,easily befremoved 1to open the neck 0f the bottle for refilling, and being of the l,same shape at "both endsV so that it will function properly whichever cud is forced into the bottle after refilling.

5. In :L maeliine .of the character described, a water. fountain of the constant level type comprising a metal clip having?r an airintalce and an overflow spout beneath the same and having a lug centrally positioned in the bottomv of the cup, alii inverted glass bottle sea-ted' in said cup with its mouth slightly beloxvlsa-id air inlet and a checkya'lv' in said bottle,"saidmchec'k valve if being made of soft rubber to permit'xvithdrawal A.from tlie bottle'and beingso 'shaped as to operate properly Whichever end is" 'iiiserted into ,the bottle f afterrefilling, said being @f such a length @ha bot-tlein in normal position in said cup the valve will resten the lug at the `bottom of the cup to permit free etraiiceof air'in-to the bttleand 'free exito'f: wafteriromthe l 6. In a machine ifthe'character described, a base member, a feedi-ngldrum secured to Said base i'iiemberlfor feeding envelopes into the in a'chine,` a `rotary moisteiiing device,

and a singlenieans for'seouringsaid moistening device to ,said base member vvin a predetermined position relative to said drum, whereby said-,niois'tening 'device may be readilyA removed for cleaning. 'i

' '7. ama'cliiiieofthefcharacter described, l' i a base" member, 'a v fee-'ding 'drum ,secured to said basem'mbegla rotary moistening device and mearis'including lugsion said base mein'- ber and s aid device, and' a single bolt ,for securing said device'vto 'said basemeiiiber with said moistening'device coaxially disposed with respect to saidl feeding drum, whereby said moisteni'ng device may .be

nreadily .removed for cleaning.

8.v In a n iachinie of the character described, the .combination'of a V,feeding drum over which envelopes may pass with their bodies horizontal arid their flaps vertical, a rotary moistening brush coaxial with said drum and across the end vface of' which the envelope flaps are wiped to moisten'the gum thereof, andv means for rotating` said brush to ,periodically immerse the bristles thereof in a liquid. A

9. In a machine 'f'lll characterdescribed, the combination of 'affeedingf drui'n over which envelopes may pass with their bodies horizontal and their flaps vertical, a rotary iiioistening brush coaxial with said drum and across the end face of which-the envelope flaps are wiped to moisten the gumthereof. and means for intermittently rotatingsaid brush to periodically immerse the bristles thereof in a liquid.

10. In a machine of the character de when said i scribed, the combination of a feeding drum over which envelopes may pass with their bodies horizontal and their flaps vertical, a rotary moistening brush coaxial with sai-d drum and across the end face of which the envelope 'flaps are wiped to moisten the gum thereof, a well into which the lower edge of said brush dips, and means for ratcheting said brush on its axis to periodically moisten the bristles thereof with .liquid held in said well.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a feeding drum overv which envelopes Amay pass with their bodies horizontal and their flaps vertical, a

rotary moistening brush coaxialwith said drum and across the end face of which the envelope flaps are wiped to moistenthe gum thereof, and a ratchet driving connection between said'drum .and said'rnois'tening brush whereby said brush is intermittently rotated to periodically -moisten the bristles thereof in a liquid. I

12. In a machine of. the lcharacter described, the combination of a feeding drum over which envelopes ,may vpass with their bodieshorizontal ankh-their iaps vertical anda rotary moistening device .co-axial with said drum'and across the end face of which the envelope aps are wipedto moistenthe gum thereof.

13. Ina machine of the character describe.d,'the combination of a .feeding drum, a brush co-axial therewith, a drum supporting .said brush, land a well into which said brush dips, said brush-supporting drum having hand holes to facilitate manual rotation of the brush when the bristles thereof have become too dry through standingidle.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a `feeding drum, a brush-supporting druml coaxial therewith, ratcheting means operatively connected with said brush-supporting drum, and a detachable driving connection between said'y feeding drum and said ratcheting means.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a feeding drum, a moistcning drum coaxial therewith, a gravity actuated dog frietionally engaging the inside of said moistening drum, a swinging arm operatively connected to intermittently swing said dog and thereby turn the drum with which it engages, a cam for swinging said arm and means for driving said cam from said feeding drum.

I16. In a machine of the character described, afeeding drum over which an envelope may be passed, a pair of transfer rolls into which said envelope is fed, the lowermost of said rolls being of less width than the upper roll, .a small auxiliary roll at the side of said lower transfer roll to assist in holding said envelope against the upper transfer roll, and an inclined metal guide beneath said transferrolls in position to fold the depending flap of the envelope toward the body thereof during transit of, the envelope through Said transfer rolls.

17. Ina machine of the character described,thel combination of a pair of transfer rolls, a swinging frame in which the uppermost of said i-olls. is mounted, a shaft on which said v frame may swing,jand a spring operatively positionedtopress downward on said lframe and urge the uppermost transfer rolls toward its companion roll.

. 18. In -a machine? of tl 1e .character described, the combinatio'nff a '.ofsealing rolls between .`.wh icl',1 .a moiste'ned envelope may be lpassed'forcvympressiorn the lowermost seal'1 'n'g V roll .being p `)"wer`,'drivenA and the uppermost sealing. `roll beingy v driven ,by frictionatengagenent with its companion roll or with-an' envelopepassing between a the two, `frame'in which` said upper roll may rotate, a shaft about which saidframe may swing, a4 bolt operatively connected to said shaft, and agleaf spring engaging said frame and operativelyl coruiectedl for adjustment by said boltto, increase or decrease the pressure ofvv id upper 'roll 'on an ,envelope passing between "said rolls.

19. In' a machine of `the character described, the combinationof-a pair of horizontal transfer rolls, the lowe'rmost of which is power driven, a pair' ofhorizontal sealing rolls the'lowermost of which is-power driven, a frame 'supporting the upper transfer roll, a second ,framesupporting the upper sealing roll, .a single shaft by which both of sai-d frames are supported and about which they may swing, an Iadjusting bolt operatively connected to said shaft, and a leaf spring adaptedfor adjustment by said bolt and bearing against bothf'of lsaid frames to push both of them downward with substantially equal force. Y Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JoHN'w. EsKHo'LME. 

